Angels homestand first pitchers, promos

Alumni first pitchers and 2002 World Series champion Angels Scott Spiezio and Jarrod Washburn, the Angels Gnome Bobblehead giveaway and the MercyMe post-game summer concert highlight this Angels' homestand, which begins Monday. <strong>Check out the game-by-game preview in this slide show.</strong> FILE PHOTOS, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTER

Scott Spiezio and Jarrod Washburn of the 2002 World Series champion Angels return along with legends Buck Rodgers and Bobby Knoop during this homestand from Monday, Aug. 15 to Wednesday, Aug. 24. Christian rockers MercyMe plus two of the most anticipated giveaways – the Angels Gnome Bobblehead and the Rally Monkey Chia Pet – appear in this nine-game stretch.

Check out the slide show for a game-by-game preview of upcoming Alumni first pitchers and promotions.

The five-time Gold Glove center fielder and stolen base leader made his MLB debut with the Angels on Sept. 13, 1982 and played six seasons with the team (1982-1987). He played 154 games and batted .258 with five home runs and 58 RBI during the 1986 AL West title season. While an Angel, was in the top five in the AL in stolen bases three teams, with a career-best 56 in 1985 (second, AL).

His career spanned 11 seasons, with Pettis playing for Detroit, tonight's opponent (Rangers) and San Diego before his retirement in 1992. He is currently the first base coach for the Rangers. He appeared in 1,183 games, was a career .236 batter and had 354 stolen bases. GETTY IMAGES, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERTuesday, Aug. 16 vs. Texas Rangers (7:05 p.m.)

Alumni first pitch: Buck Rodgers

Rodgers, who turns 73 Tuesday, made his debut with the inaugural Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 8, 1961 and played his entire career with the Angels (1961-1969). The catcher played in 150 games and batted .258 – both career highs -- in 1962, when he also caught Bo Belinsky's and the Angels' first no-hitter. He finished with 31 home runs, 288 RBI and a career batting average of .232. His strength was his leadership, which became apparent when he began his managerial career with the Milwaukee Brewers (1980, 1980–82) and Montreal Expos (1985-1991). The 1987 NL Manager of the Year with Montreal, he was skipper of the Angels (1991–92, 1992–1994). His career managerial record was 784-774. PHOTO BY TOPPS BASEBALL, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERTuesday, Aug. 16 vs. Texas Rangers (7:05 p.m.)

Giveaway: Angels 50th Anniversary Mug

All fans in attendance will receive a clear, tall glass mug adorned with the Angels' 50th Anniversary logo and that of providing sponsor Wienerschnitzel. PHOTO AND TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH, THE REGISTERWednesday, Aug. 17 vs. Texas Rangers (7:05 p.m.)

Alumni first pitch: Gary DiSarcina

The former Angels shortstop played his entire career --12 seasons -- with the team (1989-2000) and appeared in 1,086 games, seventh most in club history. The 1995 All-Star had a career batting average of .258 and tallied 966 hits and 355 RBI. He is currently in his first season working with the Angels' front office as Special Assistant to General Manager Tony Reagins. AP PHOTO, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERThursday, Aug. 18 vs. Texas Rangers (7:05 p.m.)

Alumni first pitch: Bobby Knoop

The 1966 All-Star and three-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman began his career with the Angels (1964-1969) before playing for the Chicago White Sox (1969-1970) and Kansas City Royals (1971-1972). Known for his acrobatic fielding and double-play tandem with shortstop Jim Fregosi, Knoop, in his career, batted .236, with 56 home runs, 331 RBI, 337 runs, 129 doubles, 29 triples and 16 stolen bases in 1153 games. After his playing career, he served as a coach with several teams, including the Angels (1979-1996). PHOTO BY TOPPS BASEBALL, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERThursday, Aug. 18 vs. Texas Rangers (7:05 p.m.)

Giveaway: Angels Gnome Bobblehead

The Angels Gnome was a hit. So are the bobbleheads. What if they mated? Every fan in attendance – not just kids – will get the creative offspring 50th Anniversary gnome bobblehead named “Hale O'Fann.” PHOTO AND TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH, THE REGISTERFriday, Aug. 19 vs. Baltimore Orioles (7:05 p.m.)

Alumni first pitch: Jarrod Washburn

The left-hander from Wisconsin began his MLB career with the Angels in 1998 and established himself as a starter in 2001, when he went 11-10 with a 3.77 ERA. His career year came in 2002 when he went 18-6 (3.15 ERA) and was key in the postseason run by the wild card Angels to the World Series title. He spent his career with the Angels (1998-2005), Seattle (2006-09) and Detroit (2009), compiling a record of 107-109, with a 4.10 ERA and 1,103 strikeouts. PHOTO BY TOPPS BASEBALL, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERFriday, Aug. 19 vs. Baltimore Orioles (7:05 p.m.)

Special Event: Flashback Friday

The club will don the California Angels uniforms from the 1993-1996 campaigns. The uniforms will feature the stylized “CA” lettering with navy piping along the neck and sleeves that was worn by Angel stars such as Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson, Jim Edmonds (pictured) and J.T. Snow. AP PHOTO, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERFriday, Aug. 19 vs. Baltimore Orioles (7:05 p.m.)

Special Event: U.S. Marines Night

About 500 U.S. Marines will be attending this night's game on tickets donated by OC Foodie Fest. They will be gathering in the parking lot before the game for a special tailgate and free dinner from participating food trucks as part of promoting the OC Foodie Fest on Aug. 27. The Angels are providing the participants with ballcaps. GRAPHIC COURTESY USMC, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERFriday, Aug. 19 vs. Baltimore Orioles (7:05 p.m.)

The Angels are teaming with UC Irvine Healthcare for a series of summer blood drives at Angel Stadium. Donated blood benefits UC Irvine Medical Center, Orange County's only Level I trauma center. The UC Irvine bloodmobile will be parked near the stadium ticket office and the big red Angels ballcaps between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Donors must be at least 17 years of age. An appointment is required. Go to www.ucihealth.com/donateblood to make your appointment. For more information, email donateblood@uci.edu or call 714.456.LIFE. PHOTO BY UCI, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERSaturday, Aug. 20 vs. Baltimore Orioles (6:05 p.m.)

Special Event: Rich Thompson Goes to the OC Zoo

Angels relief pitcher Rich Thompson, his wife, Ashley, and their son, Richard, 1, will visit the OC Zoo and meet with the animals and Angels fans beginning at 11 a.m. He will have read and host story time for the first 125 zoo visitors and be available for photographs near the Bear exhibit from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Anyone who wears Angels attire to the Park will receive free zoo admission that day and half off a ride on the Irvine Park Railroad. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERSaturday, Aug. 20 vs. Baltimore Orioles (6:05 p.m.)

Alumni first pitch: Marcel Lachemann

The Los Angeles native played three seasons as a relief pitcher with the Oakland Athletics (1969-1971) and later served the Angels organization for 14 years as a pitching coach (1984–1992, 1997–1998) and the club's manager from 1994 to 1996. He has also worked with the A's, Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies. PHOTO BY TOPPS BASEBALL, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERSaturday, Aug. 20 vs. Baltimore Orioles (6:05 p.m.)

Angels Post-game Summer Concert: MercyMe

This is the fourth of five acts on the Angels concert schedule. The popular contemporary Christian rock band from Texas is no stranger to baseball, having sold out post-game concerts for other major league teams. The Angels are hoping Orange County's Christian rock fans will turn out for this summer game to see the 45-minute performance of this act that has sold more than six million albums and tallied 23 multi-format No. 1 Christian radio singles. It's single, “I Can Only Imagine,” was a mainstream crossover hit, propelling their debut album, “Almost There,” into a double-platinum seller. Billboard magazine named MercyMe “Artist of the Decade” in 2009 in the Christian category, with six of their songs, including “Word of God Speak,” and “Here with Me,” ranked among the top 50 of the decade. Another hit, “I Can Only Imagine,” recently became the first Christian music song to have topped the one million digital downloads mark. PHOTO COURTESY ANGELS BASEBALL, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERSunday, Aug. 21 vs. Baltimore Orioles (12:35 p.m.)

Alumni first pitch: Scott Spiezio

A colorful member of the 2002 World Series champion team, the third baseman popular for his dyed-red goatee played for the Angels from 2000 to 2005. The 2002 season was his most productive. He batted a career-best .285, with 12 home runs and 82 RBI. His three-run home run in Game 6 of the 2002 World Series against the San Francisco led the historic rally for the Angels come-from-behind victory. PHOTO BY TOPPS BASEBALL, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERSunday, Aug. 21 vs. Baltimore Orioles (12:35 p.m.)

Mike Trout, 19, ran the bases. Now, after the game, children ages 5 to 12 will be invited down to the field level after the game to run the bases. It is recommended that all kids be escorted onto and retrieved from the field by a parent or guardian. Event begins approximately 20-30 minutes after the final out of the game. GETTY IMAGES, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERTuesday, Aug. 23 vs. Chicago White Sox (7:05 p.m.)

Alumni first pitch: Jim Anderson

The utility player made his debut at shortstop for the Angels on July 2, 1978 and spent two seasons with the team. He also played for Seattle (1980-81) and Texas (1983-84) and had a career batting average of .218, with 13 home runs and 86 RBI. PHOTO BY TOPPS BASEBALL, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTERTuesday, Aug. 23 vs. Chicago White Sox (7:05 p.m.)

Giveaway: Rally Monkey Chia Pet

Throughout this season's 50th Anniversary celebration, the giveaways have been inspired by trends of the past five decades. This Rally Monkey Chia that all fans in attendance will receive draws from the popularity of Chia Pets during the 1990s. PHOTO AND TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH, THE REGISTERTuesday, Aug. 23 vs. Chicago White Sox (7:05 p.m.)

Special Event: Rally Readers Night

The Angels, Beach Pit BBQ and ScholareShare and young Angels fans across the Southland teamed up to launch the second summer of Rally Readers. The summer reading program is designed to promote reading as a positive activity for children. Before tonight's game, one reader from each Beach Pit BBQ location will be honored during a pregame ceremony. One lucky Rally Reader will also have the opportunity to be the Angels Honorary Play Ball announcer before the game. PHOTO AND TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH, THE REGISTERWednesday, Aug. 24 vs. Chicago White Sox (7:05 p.m.)

Alumni first pitch: Rudy Meoli

The lefty-batting bench player spent his career with the Angels (1971, 1973-75), Chicago Cubs (1978) and Philadelphia Phillies (1979). He appeared in 310 games, a career-high 120 as a shortstop, second baseman and third baseman in 1973 with the Angels. His career batting average was .212. PHOTO BY TOPPS BASEBALL, TEXT BY MARCIA C. SMITH/THE REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.